Abstract: Objective: To investigate the self-transcendence level and its influencing factors in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: A total of 158 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy from two tertiary grade A hospitals in Guangzhou were enrolled in the survey using the General Information Questionnaire, Self-Transcendence Scale, Herth Hope Index, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Results: The self-transcendence score of patients was 37.07±7.74. Patients with higher education level, no tumor metastasis, and lower frequency of radiotherapy, had higher self-transcendence scores (P<0.05). The level of hope, perceived social support were positively correlated with self-transcendence in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy (P<0.05). The degree of education, the times of radiotherapy, whether the tumor metastasizes, hope level, and perceived social support were the influencing factors of self-transcendence score, which can explain 43.8% of the total variation. Conclusion: The self-transcendence level of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy is low. The individualized interventions are necessary to improve the hope level and perceived social support of patients, and so as to improve the patient's self-transcendence level.

Key words: nasopharyngeal carcinoma; radiotherapy; self-transcendence; hope; perceived social support